A 40-YEAR-OLD man is being treated in hospital for suspected gunshot wounds following an armed siege at a house in Wiltshire.

Police officers returned fire at a flat in Cross Street, Trowbridge, after being shot at by a man armed with an air rifle, during a 16-hour stand-off.

It is the first time Wiltshire police officers have opened fire during an armed incident.

The man was treated by paramedics at the scene and taken by ambulance to hospital. His injuries are not believed to be life threatening.

Police negotiators were called to the house around midnight on Sunday after receiving a tip-off.

Trained negotiators and firearms officers were scrambled to the scene, while nearby Timbrell Street was sealed off.

An 18-month-old boy was released from the flat around 9.40am while a second man jumped to safety from a ground-floor window two hours later.

A shot was fired at police just minutes before the second hostage was released. Officers responded with a single shot aimed into the kitchen.

Police officers kept guns trained on the house and made their move just after 3.30pm when they received no further response.

Firearms officers broke into the house and found a man lying on the floor with a gunshot wound.

He was arrested and taken by ambulance and police guards to hospital for treatment.

The armed incident is being linked to a raid on a post-office in Dursley Road on Sunday and a robbery in Aylesbury on Saturday.

See the Wiltshire Times on Friday for the full story.

Craig Evry